Summit Credit Union to acquire Commerce State Bank in West Bend

First bank purchase historic for growing credit union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Kim Sponem, CEO & President, Summit Credit Union
(952) 356-5080                                                                    

Joe Fazio, CEO, Commerce State Bank
(262) 247-2802

MADISON, Wis.(March 3, 2022)—Summit Credit Union and Commerce State Bank jointly announced a partnership today that includes Summit’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Commerce State Bank.

The definitive agreement was unanimously approved by both boards of directors and is pending shareholder and regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022. The combined company will have assets approaching $6 billion and will have 54 locations. 

The move for Summit Credit Union, a Madison-based financial cooperative and the second-largest credit union in Wisconsin, is historic because Commerce is the first bank it will acquire. Kim Sponem, CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, will remain the CEO of the combined organization.

“Commerce State Bank is an exceptionally well-run institution and has experienced tremendous success,” said Sponem. “We have similar values, cultures, and dedication to the highest levels of member and community service. This is a terrific strategic fit. Commerce State Bank’s stellar commercial lending portfolio adds to our strengths in mortgage and small business lending, as well as helping people with their everyday financial needs.”

“Growth and expansion are important because it provides the opportunity to positively impact more people’s financial well-being,” said Dave Reszel, Summit Board Chairperson. “We look forward to bringing our award-winning financial wellness programs to new communities in Wisconsin.”

Summit Credit Union is Wisconsin’s No. 1 Mortgage Lender and the largest credit union lender of SBA loans to small businesses in Wisconsin for 10 years.

“When we opened Commerce State Bank nearly 17 years ago, we focused all efforts on serving our four core constituencies: clients, employees, communities and shareholders. Combining with Summit Credit Union significantly benefits each of them,” Commerce State Bank Chief Executive Officer Joe Fazio said in a statement. “This transaction is about growing to serve current clients, expanding to new communities, rewarding our shareholders, and providing career opportunities for employees of the combined company.”

“Summit Credit Union has a long history and reputation for providing excellent client service. Commerce State Bank prides itself on that as well,” Jack Enea, Chairman of Commerce Financial Holdings, said in a statement. “We are going to leverage the combined strengths of Commerce and Summit Credit Union, with our people and relationship-focused attitudes, to accelerate the growth of the combined companies.”

Both the bank and credit union have won Top Workplaces awards in recent years. Commerce employees will remain part of the combined organization. 

Summit Credit Union was advised on the transaction by Dan Martin of McQueen Financial Advisors and Mike Bell of Honigman, LLP.  Commerce State Bank was advised on the transaction by Hillworth, LLC and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c.

About Summit Credit Union: Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Summit is the 2nd largest credit union in Wisconsin and holds $4.8 billion in assets and has more than 225,000 members and 754 employees across 50 locations throughout south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Kim Sponem has been CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, and its predecessor organization, CUNA Credit Union/Great Wisconsin Credit Union, since 2002. Recognized for its excellence in employee engagement, Summit was named a Top Workplace in the USA in 2021 by Top Workplaces USA and a Top Workplace in the Madison area for 2020 and 2021 by the Wisconsin State Journal.

For more information, visit www.summitcreditunion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560.  For additional media information, visit https://www.summitcreditunion.com/about-summit/press-room or follow Summit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Commerce State Bank: Opened in August 2005, Commerce State Bank is a full-service, state-chartered bank headquartered in West Bend, Wi., with additional offices in Cedarburg, Elm Grove and Sheboygan. The bank has assets of $835 million, making it the 32^nd largest bank in Wisconsin.   

Luminex Job Posting: Senior Director/Vice President, Assay Research and Development – US

Luminex, a DiaSorin Company is seeking dedicated and talented individuals with a proactive and positive ‘can-do’ attitude to join our team. If changing the diagnostic landscape and revolutionizing patient care sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we invite you to apply today!  Together, we can help healthcare providers improve patient outcomes,  make a difference in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, and tackle the world’s most pressing health issues.   You can learn more about our values, mission, and vision by visiting our website: https://www.luminexcorp.com/about-luminex/.

The Senior Director/Vice President of Assay Research and Development is responsible for managing a department focused on researching and developing new product ideas geared towards development of in vitro diagnostic products. The role necessitates close collaboration with departments across the company, including Marketing, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Quality and Technical Support. The position leads evaluation, feasibility, and product development activities of new products and technologies in accordance with Design Control Standards and Regulations. The Senior Director of Assay Research and Development is also responsible for administrative duties pertaining to the department as a whole, managing departmental project timelines, and preparing and monitoring the departmental fiscal year budget.

What you will do

• Direct and manage a department responsible for the development of new and improved products to meet corporate objectives and timelines
• Direct scientific managers and their group of scientists and associates in the development of new and improved in vitro diagnostic products in accordance with Quality System Requirements.
• In collaboration with marketing, establish effective pipeline plans and schedules to ensure timely progress of multiple products through all phases of new product development. Manage project team leaders from feasibility through development phase of product development and ensure effective knowledge transfer between feasibility and development groups.
• Provide department leadership for maintaining awareness of current advances in clinical diagnostic technology and literature (including regulations and standards) pertaining to nucleic acid based methods to ensure pipeline development plans capture all relevant considerations
• Provide leadership within Research & Development and across the organization in order to foster employee development
• Contribute towards management of GMP, GLP and GCP processes relating to design control, design change, and design transfer
• Direct verification and validation testing of new products in agreement with design control requirements.
• Contribute towards pre-submission activities and oversee clinical studies for the purpose of collecting data to support submissions to regulatory agencies (e.g. FDA, Health Canada)
• Oversee design transfer of products from Product Development to Operations
• Interact with Regulatory, Operations and Marketing to efficiently and effectively manage development, transfer and launch of a portfolio of diagnostic products
• Provide scientific expertise and support for on-market products. Lead troubleshooting activities and product design changes for on-market products.
• Role in Technology Assessment, Opportunity teams (review of new opportunities) and scientific development in the diagnostic field.
• Prepare departmental budgets and establish equipment and personnel needs to provide for product development.

Education Qualifications

• Ph.D. Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or a related field. required

Experience Qualifications

• 10+ Years in scientific work in a biotechnology or other research environment. required
• 5+ Years Experience in nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g. PCR), and molecular sample-to-answer systems. required
• 5+ Years leading and/or managing a team of engineers, scientists, associates and technicians in meeting department deliverables on a day-to-day basis required
• 5+ Years Experience in diagnostic assay development in a GLP/GMP environment required
• 5+ Years Experience preparing and working within budgets required
• 5+ Years Experience working in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities. required

Training and Skills

• Ability to advance projects through to completion, managing expectations and timelines, and meeting key milestones
• Demonstrates good judgment and good decision-making, sometimes quickly and with limited information available
• Capacity to manage several projects in parallel to ensure maximum productivity, without compromising quality, in pipeline development
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with Senior Management
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams while maintaining a positive, energetic and collaborative culture

Standard Working Conditions

• Must work onsite at Luminex office – Frequently

Travel Requirements

• 10% with 5% international

Luminex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status of an otherwise qualified individual, citizenship status, membership or application for membership in a uniformed service, or any other protected characteristic or category protected by applicable law.

Henrich Named to M3 Insurance Board of Directors

Kathy Henrich, CEO of Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, has been named to the Board of Directors of M3 Insurance. Henrich’s three-year board appointment was approved on March 2, 2022, at the M3 Shareholder Meeting.

In January 2020, Henrich was named CEO of Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, a non-profit organization focused on inclusively doubling tech talent in the Milwaukee region to drive regional prosperity and create life changing jobs. Since its inception in October 2019, the coalition has grown from six founding members to 115 organizations collaborating to attract and build diverse tech talent, scale the innovation ecosystem and connect the tech community. In her tenure, the coalition has launched a startup incubator, corporation innovation, internship, apprenticeship, and talent attraction programs.

Prior to joining Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Henrich served for more than 30 years in the tech industry, leading $500M sales, partnership, and consulting organizations. She earned her Master of Science, Workforce Talent Development from Louisiana State University, and a certificate in Data Driven Consulting from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Additionally, Henrich serves on boards of several non-profit organizations, including Tech United, WI Startup Coalition, and Wisconsin Policy Forum Economic Development Committee.

“We are honored and excited to bring Kathy’s talent, experience and perspective to the M3 board,” said Mike Victorson, M3 CEO. “Her leadership and vision around technology and advancing innovation will undoubtedly benefit all stakeholders connected with M3 as we continue to grow and evolve as a forward-thinking, client-driven organization.”

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About M3

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.

Members approve partnership between Dane County Credit Union and Heartland Credit Union

MADISON, WI (March 3, 2022) – Members of Dane County Credit Union (DCCU) voted in favor of joining forces with Heartland Credit Union (HCU). The official legal merger took place on March 1, 2022.

Discussions began mid-year in 2021, with both boards unanimously supporting the partnership of the two organizations to bring added value and increased benefits to both memberships. Dane County Credit Union members gave their consent by an overwhelming majority who voted in support of the merger.

The combined credit union will operate under the Heartland Credit Union name and will hold approximately $617 million in assets, serving more than 36,500 members throughout 28 counties in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. The headquarters will be Heartland Credit Union’s High Crossing Boulevard office on the east side of Madison, and will be led by HCU CEO, Sally Dischler. DCCU President/CEO, Shay Santos, will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer.

“As the financial services landscape constantly evolves, we sought to create greater value for our members, our employees and the communities we both serve,” said Shay Santos, President and CEO of Dane County Credit Union. “The partnership with Heartland Credit Union is a great fit as both organizations have shared commitments to those we serve. We are very excited that as a combined credit union, we will be stronger, allowing more opportunities to support our local communities, provide more resources to help members achieve financial success, and give staff more opportunities for personal development and growth.”

Sally Dischler, CEO of Heartland Credit Union said, “We are thrilled to welcome our friends at Dane County Credit Union into Heartland Credit Union. Our sole purpose is to positively contribute to our member-owner’s social and economic well-being, and our united resources will give us the ability to deliver an enhanced experience to both memberships.”

Members of both credit unions will have access to their combined 11 branches, including a new location slated to open this year in Oregon, Wisconsin. DCCU members will continue to conduct business as usual without changes to their accounts until October 2022 when DCCU will be integrating their software platform systems with HCU’s.

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About HCU and DCCU

Heartland Credit Union, with $400 million in assets was formed in 1936 and serves 21,500 members. Dane County Credit Union, with $217 million in assets was formed in 1935 and serves 15,000 members. To learn more, visit www.heartlandcu.org or www.dccu.us.

UW–Madison Division of the Arts: State of the Art: International Screendance Symposium Events held at H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall from April 10-13, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2022  

MEDIA CONTACT:  
Douglas Rosenberg | UW–Madison Art Department | rosend@education.wisc.edu

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

LINK TO ARTICLE

State of the Art: International Screendance Symposium Events held at H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall from April 10-13, 2022

Madison, Wis. – We are pleased to announce State of the Art: The 2022 International Symposium on Screendance, directed by UW–Madison Art Department Professor Douglas Rosenberg. The event will be held at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from April 10-13, 2022. This year’s symposium will focus on a number of topics that are timely to the field of screendance, including, but not limited to, the Feminist roots of screendance, the generational and evolving critical landscape of the field, de-colonizing screendance, race and gender in screendance, intersectionality and facilitating new ways of knowing the cinematic body and mapping the literature of the field. All events will be free and open to the public

In the year 2000, UW–Madison held the first-ever International Dance for the Camera Symposium, which has, for the last twenty years, been a global touchstone for the field. It was a historic meeting that attracted not only scholars and practitioners of the genre, but choreographers and video/filmmakers from around the world including Latin American, the UK, Europe and elsewhere. In addition to generating dialogue on the history and theory of the field, the symposium included roundtable discussions, lectures, and a screening of selected dance film and video work from around the world. It also provided a generational bridge to the future of the art form. As an outgrowth of the symposium, a number of participants took the experience back to their own communities and continued to nurture the field through courses, festivals, workshops and other forms of audience building.

Since that time, the field has grown exponentially. There have been numerous international gatherings and symposia, new festivals and screening opportunities and new voices have emerged through both scholarship and practice. There is an International Journal of Screendance (founded at UW–Madison) and brilliantly written books, articles and chapters that focus on the practice in multiple languages by deeply thoughtful writers. As the field has evolved in the last two decades, it is a perfect time to bring together interdisciplinary artists and practitioners, scholars and historians to share new research in the field and to continue to build a welcoming international community.

For more information, including a schedule, travel accommodations, and registration, visit screendancesymposium.art.wisc.edu.

The International Screendance Symposium is generously supported by the Virginia Horne Henry Fund and is co-sponsored by the UW–Madison Art Department and UW–Madison Dance Department. Promotional support provided by the UW–Madison Division of the Arts.

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